Tensions inside the Nationalist Congress Party surfaced on Monday when a senior member issued a legal notice contesting Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar’s election as national president. Working president Praful Patel separately urged corrective steps in party operations. The moves highlighted new divisions months after former deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar’s death.
National secretary Sachchidanand Singh sent the notice to Sunetra Pawar, Praful Patel and national general secretary Brijmohan Srivastava. It questions the February 26 election process and asks that the result be ruled invalid. Singh claims a February 17 meeting had named Patel interim president, yet the next day an election was launched without required constitutional steps.
Patel told reporters the party must address the leadership vacuum left by Ajit Pawar. His comments coincided with the notice becoming public. The notice alleges that mandatory procedures such as forming an independent election body, publishing a schedule and allowing nominations were skipped. Singh says he received no formal notice of the convention and was denied a chance to stand.
The notice gives leaders 15 days to withdraw filings with the Election Commission and hold fresh polls. Failure to act could lead Singh to approach the courts and the commission.
Separately, sources report unease over the growing role of Rajya Sabha member Parth Pawar in party matters. Some legislators also cite limited communication from the leadership and the absence of legislative party meetings during the recent monsoon session.
